There is a small possibility
that Tinsley Lindley, debuting in this match on 13 March 1886, was
the captain, making him the youngest ever. At least three
sources name Percy Walters, another names George Shutt.

Lindley must be favourite on 4
February 1888, he was captain in both the other two matches in
this year, and he was an amateur, as well as the most capped
player in the line-up. But he had never been the England
captain before this point, so is therefore not cast-iron.
Moreover, the Manchester Guardian, The London Times,
The Field, Wrexham Advertiser, Sporting Life,
Athletic News Annual 1891-92, Northern Whig,
North Wales Guardian, or The Sportsman specifically
mention any captain.

Football historian Cris Freddi,
himself the author of a book on the England team, has done
extensive research in the English and Irish newspapers of March
1890 and has not found a single contemporaneous record of
England's captain for this match.

Almost certain it was Arthur
Walters on 5 April 1890, instead of his brother, Percy - but there
is doubt. The London Times, The Sportsman,
Sporting Chronicle, Alcock's Annual 1890, Athletic
News Annual 1891-92, Preston Herald and Glasgow
Herald decline to mention any England captain. In
The Field, Arthur Walters is listed as captain in the line-up, the
Athletic News reads as 'PM and AM Walters (Capt)'. But Arthur
Walters is usually no. 2 in the line-up, and this publication
could have got the brothers mixed-up. Besides, The Field
notes that it was Percy who gave the post-match dinner speech, not
Arthur.

Football historian Cris Freddi,
himself the author of a book on the England team, has done
extensive research in the English and Irish newspapers of March
1892 and has not found a single contemporaneous record of
England's captain for this match.

Various sources cannot decide who was captain for this
match on 12 March 1894, probably Charles Wreford-Brown, but possibly Cunliffe Gosling. Wreford-Brown was by far the oldest in an inexperienced team, but neither Sporting Life, Manchester Guardian, North
Wales Guardian, The Times, The Field, The Sportsman,
Sporting Chronicle, and Northern Whig make mention of a
captain.

The captaincy on 7 March 1896 was probably given to George Raikes, at least according to Irish Saturday Night and The Irish
Times.
The London Times gives a first captaincy to Gilbert Smith,
and Vaughan Lodge is also a possibility. Many other sources do
not specify any captain.

Football historian Cris Freddi,
himself the author of a book on the England team, has done extensive
research in the English and Welsh newspapers of the time and has not found
a single contemporaneous record of England's captain for this match.
Possibly Gilbert Smith.

The
London Times and Sporting Life say Gilbert Smith was captain on
2 April 1898,
but the
Northern Whig and the Ulster Football & Cycling News say
Wreford-Brown, as does The Sportsman, Glasgow Herald, and
Manchester Guardian. The Guardian sums it up: 'Wreford-Brown,
the captain, was said to be the weak spot... but he justified his
selection.' The FA's own minutes, also confirm Wreford-Brown as
captain.

England's Captains by
Club Affiliations 1872-1914* denotes Player
appeared for two or more clubs at the time of his captaincy, thus the
total amount of captaincies below will NOT equal total amount of
England matches